The Society of Idleness and Chaos
The Society of Idleness and Chaos.
This is a secret society formed to spread chaos throughout the world.
It does not belong to any specific nation; instead, it hides in the shadows, growing its influence in the dark without drawing attention, planting its followers in the core of various nations like a cancer spreading through the human body, eroding and attempting to destroy from within.
Moritz Abatia, Elimes Lokorofi, and the Scarecrow man are among the most powerful executives within The Society of Idleness and Chaos.
Among them, Moritz, as Vanitas pointed out, is the one responsible for contacting and skillfully recruiting those with potential, bringing them into their ranks.
Although Vanitas has named the society, he does not know its true objectives. Furthermore, he cannot recall details about the trio’s innate attributes, their motives for resurrecting the dragon, or their roles and fates in the story.
In the original story, it was inconceivable that Vanitas, a student, would visit the sealed forest at this time. Even more improbable was being favored and taken by the princess, Razelia Luandor.
In the story, Granip Fortress was completely destroyed, and Mackern Bardner died in battle. Although the monsters were defeated and the damage was minimized, they could not overcome the subsequent assault by the dragon and the trio’s rampage.
The dragon, having exterminated the knights and completed its test run, hid from the Empire and subsequently destroyed a small nation near the Empire.
Thus, the Eclipse Dragon stood before the protagonist, Anhel, as a key force and vanguard of The Society of Idleness and Chaos.
Vanitas’s memory is fragmented, with many gaps rendering it unreliable.
While he is resigned to the fact that he cannot recall certain things and has some idea of the reasons, he has not reached certainty.
However, this missing memory does not concern Vanitas, the nameless reincarnate, at this moment.
The story has already diverged from its original path.
Vanitas’s actions have led the story in a completely different direction, following a route that bears no resemblance to the original.
Therefore, it is irrelevant.
He will not hesitate or retreat, even if the opponent is clearly a formidable enemy.
What occupies his thoughts is simply to beat down those he despises.
Damn it!
Stop fooling around!
He cursed inwardly.
After the strange motion of overlapping his hands, Vanitas, the kid, unleashed a sudden and fierce shockwave.
Although the centipedes had quickly fortified their defenses, he was thrown through the air by the force.
What is this…? He should just be a noble brat, right?
Just some self-important fool who came here thinking he’s a savior?
Sure, the magic he used to kill the monsters attacking the knights had considerable power.
But it’s just a noble’s pastime.
Even with somewhat superior magic, it should be something that could be blocked by his centipede magic.
Yet, he casts a spell with such a wide-ranging effect?
The damage is minor.
But the internal shock far exceeds that.
…Not yet. It’s not a big problem.
He can recover easily.
And no matter how incredible the shockwave, it hasn’t affected the Eclipse Dragon.
After all, with such a massive body.
The Eclipse Dragon’s weight is beyond normal; it merely made its feet lift slightly.
So what if it was pushed back a bit from its original position?
Even considering that it was weakened by being released from its seal, an ancient dragon of this caliber wouldn’t be defeated so easily.
…It shouldn’t be.
Moreover, if he’s using such a large-scale spell, even if he’s running low on magic—
“Heavy Grip!"
"—Huh? That bastard, again?!"
"—Ultimate Impact Cannon!"
The body creaked under the renewed shock.
Is he firing another spell immediately?
A spell of this magnitude?
It’s unbelievable.
"Guhhh!?"
Hey, Eclipse Dragon!
You’re an ancient sealed evil dragon, aren’t you?
Hold your ground a bit longer!
"Heavy Grip—"
"! I won’t let you do that so many times! —Rainbow Hoop!"
"…Hmm."
The magic of Elimes, whose innate attribute is ‘Rainbow Band.’
A rainbow formed into a ring flies towards the standing kid.
Elimes may be a sassy girl who hardly listens to the organization’s orders, but as one with a light magic-derived innate attribute, she wields the fastest magic among us.
However…
"Grasp!"
"What?"
"Eh, no way! Why is my magic—!?"
It was deflected…?
"I can’t afford to forget either! Piercing Dragonbone Lance!!"
A surprise spear throw.
The princess is targeting me.
The white bone spear slices through the centipedes and grazes my cheek.
"Tch."
This is the rumored Dragonbone magic.
Its hardness due to the bone is one of the reasons why the "Raging Dragon Princess" is said to be so formidable.
"—Scarecrow [Sentry]"
"Hmm, a decoy. How crafty."
The spear thrown again was blocked by the magic of Scarecrow, a scarecrow-like man.
Unlike the scarecrow’s massive body that had withstood Vanitas’s shockwave, this scarecrow was equipped with a shabby sword and simple armor.
"Well done, Scarecrow! You lot are getting too full of yourselves! Go, Eclipse Dragon! Sweep away those pesky insects!"
"Gaaah!"
An order relayed to the Eclipse Dragon through a collar.
It sweeps with its forelimbs, gouging the ground and even changing the terrain.
A thunderous noise engulfs the area.
Damn, they’re retreating fast.
In no time, they’ve pulled back.
And now, as if nothing happened, the collapsing ground is being rushed and assaulted.
What the hell are these guys…… Aren't they scared?
This is an Eclipse Dragon.
Did you see the terrifying power it has now?
Just by moving its front legs, it cracked the ground and mowed down the trees in the forest like sticks.
The scenery in front of us completely changed.
And even I, when I first saw this dragon released from its seal, instinctively sensed that I didn't want to fight it.
Yet――――.
"Slashing Dragon Bone’s Death Claw!! Oh, it's hard, it's not just hard! My dragon bone can't seem to make a dent!"
"Double Grip――――Ultimate Grip Cannon Full Impact …Certainly hard. The cannon shots aren’t getting through."
"Then how about this! Deflecting Dragon Bone’s Sword Tail! Oh, and this doesn’t work either! Evil Dragon, you must be an overwhelming superior! Ha ha, I'm delighted, truly delighted!"
"Double Grip――――Extreme Grip Attack Full Impact. …Even this can only manage to scratch a scale. My training should have increased its power, but …heh, I’ll keep hitting it no matter how many times it takes."
They’re laughing…… No, they’re smiling.
They’re challenging the Eclipse Dragon as if it’s nothing, laughing all the while.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
I stopped attacking and had to ask them.
I had no choice but to question them.
"……Are you guys insane?"
"Hmm? What an odd thing to say. Wasn’t this all started by you?"
"Ah, Moritz, you were the one who did this. You attacked the fortress and opposed us. Did you not expect someone to stand up against you in such a grand scheme?"
"…………I didn’t anticipate maniacs like you."
Where did things go wrong?
Everything was going smoothly until the seal of the evil dragon, the Eclipse Dragon, was broken.
We had attacked the fortress and almost succeeded.
We had wiped out the knights and were just about to leave, having eliminated all witnesses.
That was supposed to be the end.
But what the hell are these guys!?
The princess is fine.
I had heard rumors about her exceptional abilities.
But Vanitas!
Knowing our organization’s name, the way he unleashes magic with such intensity without even showing signs of magical exhaustion, and never taking his eyes off the Eclipse Dragon for a moment.
That guy, that guy isn’t just some noble brat!
He’s something else entirely!
……He’s too dangerous.
I have to take him down here.
"…Mud Bullet."
"Hm? What’s that weak magic? Rainbow Circle."
"!?"
"What’s this? Are you, a slave, actually daring to oppose me? And using mud magic… how disgusting. If you’re going to use magic, you should use something as beautiful and splendid as mine. Rainbow Tri-Foam."
Turning my gaze to Elimes, I saw that she was engaged in battle with Vanitas’s slave, a little distance away from us.
…It seems that the slave girl isn't as crazy as the master, though.
It’s a good thing, but she’s clearly weaker than the two of us here and is visibly frightened by the Eclipse Dragon.
Her movements are sluggish, and I can occasionally see her glancing in our direction.
"…Elimes!"
"What? I’m currently teaching this filthy mud girl the beauty of my magic."
"Ah, you deal with that slave! Scarecrow Man!"
"…………"
"Take care of the princess."
The Scarecrow Man, as expressionless and emotionally detached as ever, nodded slightly.
This is fine.
Now, the rest――――.
"So, it seems I’m your opponent…"
"……Ah, the princess can wait. Vanitas, I’ll kill you first."
Damn, look away for once.